skip to main content

Home Decorating Furniture Design Dilemma

Cream colored tables or dark wood?

last year

I would like to change from dark wood to lighter colored tables (shown in foreground) in my beach house, but need to change the lamps if I do that. Any suggestions or comments. I am till undeccided whether or not the lighter tables, one in front of the couch also, is a good idea. Any thoughts? Thank you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Helen
last year
last modified: last year
I don't have exactly the same stuff but I have a dark blue sofa and a Chinese Deco rug which isn't the Persian you have but is also a design element.

On the advice of my designer she said I needed something with some amount of presence (e.g. a lucite or all glass table wouldn't work) but not something that was completely opaque like wood would be. So the obvious was some kind of metallic frame with glass - she also explained that having the metallic frame would lighten up the space.

There were obviously size parameters and shape - oval or rectangle or "amoba" but square or round wouln't work.

It took awhile but we found a coffee table that will work in the space and with the rest of the furniture in the living area. I am going to have the top changed to a dark glass or antique mirror top to give it more visual presence because with two clear glass tops it is too "light" for the rest of the space.
teach112
Original Author
last year
Thank you, Helen. The table is lovely. I have a similar one at home and it looks great. I decided against glass because the mist from the ocean covers the glass tops and they always look "cloudy". I thought cream colored tables would give it a more beachy look, but maybe not appropriate. I may stay with the dark wook and off white lamps. Again, I love your table!
Related Discussions
Wall color to go with dark reddish wood (cherry?) cabinets
Q
Comments (39)
My feeling is that you may be in color overload. It is easy to get there, especially with the thousands of colors offered. Truth is out of all the colors there are really a handful of popular colors that work. There is a paint company called C2. They don't have a ton of stores, but you can order samples online. You don't need to paint your own samples - they sell huge samples ( 18" x 24" painted color samples (not printed paper). The samples are about $5 or $6 per sample.if purchased in a store, $9.00 online. They have smaller painted cards that run $1.00 online and are free in stores. Their full fan deck is only $50.00 They have a limited selection of colors, just the "Best in Class". Using EasyRGB to look up colors that are similar to Revere Pewter in Benjamin Moore Paints I get this: 10 colors with very little variance. Using the same program but looking for colors that are similar to Revere Pewter in C2 Paints I get this: 10 colors that are similar in depth of color but have quite discernibleundertones. You are pretty much guaranteed that one will look good with your cabinets and floors. More isn't always better. Sometimes it is simply more confusing. If I were you I would probably start with the lighter colors, closer to C2 Archival For $11.00 you can get the small paint sample of all 11 colors - pick the 3 you like best and for another $30.00 get big samples and make a final decision. Easy peasy done!
...See More
How do you feel about cream upper cabinets and dark wood lower cabinet
Q
Comments (25)
We have a small galley kitchen. Eleven years ago we installed quartersawn oak cabinets, the lowers stained chestnut and the uppers stained sand - an off white. I still love it and left the cabinet scheme when we had to refresh some elements about four years ago. I agree that you should use ubatuba on both perimeter and island. At first I wondered if your backsplash tile was too muddy and 'fancy' for lack of a better word but with your ubatuba, I liked it better the longer I looked at the combination. You get so many opinions - including mine! Have you talked to a tiler about the backsplash installation - they'll require a skilled installer I would think.
...See More
How can I get rid of dark edges on a wooden table top?
Q
Comments (2)
I commend your determination,you have done far more than i would have.
...See More
Floor to ceiling wainscoting in a dark room - greige, white, cream.. ?
Q
Comments (9)
I would prefer a white ceiling as Pashmina is a pretty dark color, and I would do the trim in white also - probably Alabaster since you have it elsewhere. If the ceiling is already white you have nothing to lose by having the walls painted and then seeing how you like it with a white ceiling, then painting the ceiling later (even if it's the next day). However, if you like a dark ceiling, go for it. Everyone does not like the same thing.
...See More
jck910
last year
The rug and the white tables do not go together. I would stick with the darker tables and get white lampshades. OR you could get a natural fiber rug and use the white tables. Your rug is beautiful but formal for a beach house
teach112
Original Author
last year
Thank you! The rug is very old and wears so well at the beach, and I thought the tables (same tone of cream as in the rug) would make the room look more casual. It is a second living and not used much. Maybe I will leave things as they are but definitely change the lamp shades.
Emily
last year
Lighter wood tables can look great with a dark sofa.

As can marble and gold metal:

Your rug is very nice with the sofa, but it's also very dark. You could lighten the room considerably by replacing with it.
teach112 thanked Emily

Related Stories

REMODELING GUIDES Light Wood vs Dark Wood

By Margaret Everton

See What Shades of Wood Can Do for a Space

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: Patterns and Colors Flirt With Wood in Los Angeles

By Mitchell Parker

Rational exuberance reigns in this wood-filled Craftsman, thanks to well-considered shots of color and snazzy graphics

DECORATING GUIDES From Queasy Colors to Killer Tables: Your Worst Decorating Mistakes

Houzzers spill the beans about buying blunders, painting problems and DIY disasters

COLOR 11 Terrific Paint Color Matches for Wood Details

By Charmean Neithart Interiors

Pair your wood trim and cabinets with the right shade of wall paint to bring out the beauty in both

COLOR 9 Dark Wall Colors to Suit Your Mood

By Becky Harris

Tired of light and airy? Try dark and moody for a change; you may be surprised by the moods these colors inspire

COLOR White vs. Cream: Which Neutral Paint Color Is Right for You?

By Jess McBride

Do bright white rooms give you the chills? Are off-whites too drab and boring? Let’s see which is a better fit for you

KITCHEN DESIGN 7 Colors That Enhance Cream Kitchen Cabinets

By Amanda Pollard

If you’re set on cream for your cook space, consider combining it with these hues for a pleasing palette

KITCHEN DESIGN Cabinet Colors for Dark Appliances

By Lisa Frederick

See how to make your black kitchen appliances blend in and look great

COLOR Painting Rooms with Dark Colors

COLOR Summer Color Combos: 8 Refreshing Ice Cream Palettes

By Becky Harris

July 19 is National Ice Cream Day, so scoop up these delectable combinations for sumptuous interiors

Sponsored

More Discussions

From screen porch to 4 season room

11

Finished Master Bath Pix (well 98.9% finished)

43

Dining room update

23

Terrible family room design

23

Cottage Sunroom/ Gazebo redecorating

3